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In this exciting and challenging role, you’ll provide high-level advice, expertise, and coordination for the nine City Hall Conservative Members of the London Assembly, and lead and motivate a team of 15 staff providing research, and administrative support services. As such, you’ll also be an effective member of the London Assembly Secretariat’s Directorate Management Team, working with corporate managers and colleagues to provide effective and efficient delivery of services and to develop and implement the Authority’s policies.

Your strong organisational and leadership skills will come into play as you’ll develop and lead effective liaison with the Mayor of London’s Office, senior officers of the GLA, other party Groups on the Assembly, the GLA’s functional bodies, external bodies, including central and local government and major public, private sector and voluntary organisations, in order to ensure proper coordination and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information between the Members and relevant external stakeholders.

Your experience from having worked in a similar role will enable you to develop, manage and oversee publicity and communications work to promote the work of the Conservative Assembly Members to a variety of audiences using a range of communication tools, including written reports, briefings, presentations, and speeches. You’ll also have the experience to take overall responsibility for the development and delivery of the Members’ work on policy, research, constituency, and London-wide issues.

You'll have worked in a politically sensitive environment previously therefore your ability to resolve complex issues through diplomacy and tact will be quite useful in this role. Ideally, you'll have a thorough understanding of current policy issues affecting London as well as an understanding of the legislative framework in which the GLA operates.

• To lead and manage a large team of staff and significant budgets in order to ensure the effective provision of support services to the Group, including the development and delivery of plans and tasks, and the research, communications and administrative support required by Members.
• To act as the primary direct source of high quality advice and support for the Assembly Members in the Group on all matters relating to their GLA roles and functions and to represent their GLA positions/interests within the organisation and beyond as required, liaising directly and regularly with the Authority’s statutory and senior officers, the Mayor’s Office and significant external stakeholders (functional bodies, London Councils, London borough representatives, a full range of external organisations) in order to achieve this objective.
• To contribute to the management of the Secretariat Directorate, including attendance as required at the Directorate Management Team.
• To act and manage the staff and resources allocated to the job in accordance with the Authority’s policies and Code of Ethics and Standards.
• To realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities and realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking duties and responsibilities of this job, participating in cross team working and task groups.

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, please feel free to contact Helen Ewen at [email protected] to arrange a call.

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role. Please upload a supporting statement or covering letter with a maximum of 1500 words to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the following technical requirements and competencies in your supporting statement. Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and cover letter/supporting statement documents are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345)

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications

• Significant experience of successful working in a similar role within political or comparable high-profile environment, including resolving complex issues effectively and efficiently.
• A thorough understanding of current policy issues affecting London, together with knowledge and understanding of the legislative framework in which the GLA works.
• Ability to produce authoritative clear and concise oral and written reports and research on complex issues for a range of audiences and present in a way that can be used by Assembly Members to their best advantage.

Behavioural competencies

Managing and Developing Performance

… is setting high standards for oneself and others, guiding, motivating and developing them, to achieve high performance and meet the GLA’s objectives and statutory obligations.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Motivates and inspires others to perform to their best, recognising and valuing their work and encouraging them to learn and reflect
• Sets clear direction and expectations and enables others to interpret competing priorities
• Agrees and monitors challenging, achievable performance objectives in line with GLA priorities
• Manages performance issues effectively to avoid adverse impact on team morale and performance
• Promotes a positive team culture that respects diversity and deals with barriers to inclusion

Decision Making

… is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Makes sound decisions quickly on behalf of the GLA when a situation requires intervention
• Takes responsibility for team decisions, providing rationale when those decisions are questioned
• Involves senior stakeholders early in decisions that impact them
• Analyses organisational risks associated with decisions, including those with long term impacts, before committing to action
• Encourages others in the team to make decisions in their own area of expertise, take appropriate risks and learn from experience

Communicating and Influencing

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments
• Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities
• Synthesises the complex viewpoints of others, recognises where compromise is necessary and brokers agreement
• Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation

Responsible Use of Resources

… is taking personal responsibility for using and managing resources effectively, efficiently and sustainably.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Allocates financial and people resources efficiently to maximise value for team and wider organisation
• Thinks in terms of maximum efficiency when planning resource allocation
• Implements good practice on efficient use of resources
• Monitors financial performance and efficiency of own team, ensuring delivery of work within budget
Negotiates and manages contracts responsibly across a diverse supplier base

This role is based at City Hall, in the Royal Docks (Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1Z).

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.
We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Application closing date: 10/09/2023 at 23:59

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact [email protected].